Rapid force decisive Game 3 back in Hornell

HOUGHTON — A tie game was a pretty common theme during Game 1 of the NYCBL Western Division finals in Hornell Tuesday. The Dodgers had to break two ties with the Rapids to earn the victory.

On the road at Houghton College just 24 hours later, Genesee tied up the Dodgers in the sixth inning, and had to break the tie just once.

The hosts in white came through Wednesday, collecting a big five-run frame after losing a 4-0 lead to record a 13-8 Game 2 victory, forcing a decisive Game 3 back at Maple City Park tonight.

“They’re a really good ball club, and we knew we had to come out with our A-game if we wanted to go any further,” said Genesee manager Joe Mina. “The guys have been battling all year from game to game, and every team struggles at some point. The guys that have struggled are staying steady and hitting the ball. It takes the pressure off the pitchers, and allows us to hit. A combination of both things really helped us win this game tonight.”

Of the game’s first dozen outs, eight of them were recorded in a rapid succession to start the night, resulting in zeroes across the board. The game’s first hit came off the bat of Sam Meng on a double in the third, but the next three batters went down to leave him on base.

That allowed Genesee to capitalize.

In the bottom half, four runs came across the plate, two on a passed ball behind first off a John Zamites bunt to the left side of the infield. He advanced to third and later scored on another bunt laid down by Josh Hayner.

Travis Ralls added to the frame on a double to deep center, switching places with Hayner to start off the game with a four-run lead. After the big inning by the Rapids, that would be the end for Livonia grad Reid VanScoter, who just went three innings, fanning two along the way.

“They came ready to go, and they were fired up,” said Hornell manager CJ Baker. “They took advantage of the opportunities that they got, and it was a fun game to be a part of once again. Whether you’re on the losing side or the winning side, as long as everyone competes, it’s a good game. Both sides did that tonight.”

The Dodgers found a way to bounce back, scoring five unanswered runs to take their first lead of the game, starting in the fourth. Ethan Harrison delivered a shot to the gap in left field to plate Andrew McCoy on a double. He later scored on a triple from Jared Kapturasky to center.

Three more runs came across in the sixth for Hornell, with Meng, McCoy and Max Werner all chipping in the RBI hits, including Werner’s sacrifice fly to right that plated Meng to give the visitors in blue a brief 5-4 advantage.

“We trusted the at-bat a little bit,” Baker said. “We were getting good barrel on the ball, and it didn’t really fall. We had quite a few balls that we hit here that could have been easily home runs at our place. The guys just trusted it, and I said that we were having a great approach at the plate, we’re getting good barrel on the ball. We just have to play our game.”

But as quick as Hornell earned the lead, it was taken away.

The Rapids put together their strongest effort, a five-run sixth inning headed by a bases-clearing hit to the outfield from AJ Nitzschke that gave them a four-run lead. Zamites and Hayner each added back-to-back RBI hits to help the cause. All five runs came with two outs.

“AJ’s been hot the last week or so,” Mina said. “He won the Wellsville game for us when it was 13-13, and his grand slam helped us win that. It’s nice to see our number four hit the ball like that.”

The lead for Genesee doubled in size with another two-out RBI hit from Hayner on a single up the middle. At the next at-bat with two runners on, Zach Roberts brought them both in on a double down the left field line, giving the Rapids the biggest lead of the game, at seven.

However, Hornell’s bats would roll again in the eighth, as Harrison launched a deep triple to center to help cut away at the deficit. He later scored on Werner’s single up the middle to trail by five entering the bottom half.

The game’s final two runs both came on a home run, as Genesee’s Nitzschke and Hornell’s Mike Wick each collected a lead-off homer for their respective clubs. Nitzschke’s came on the first pitch of his at-bat. He finished 2-for-4 at the plate with four total RBI to lead the Rapids bats.

Jeam Castillo picked up the win for Genesee, fanning one. Austin Marsh fanned and walked two respectively in his five-inning start.

Both Harrison and Werner had two RBI on the night for Hornell, while Cerniglia chipped in with three hits and a walk.

The winner-take-all Game 3 begins tonight in the Maple City, where a 7 p.m. first pitch is slated.

“I’m expecting a little more of the same,” Mina said. “Our bats are good. Our pitching staff is a little tired, but it’s Game 3, and everyone forgets about it. I’m looking forward to a great battle, whatever the outcome is at the end of the night.”

As for the Dodgers, Baker expects it to be rowdy.

“Our guys are weird, they’re fun and loud at home,” he said. “Hornell is a great place to play at, and the fans will have a good time. We get to go defend our home turf now, and we’ve won 90 percent of our games there this season. We don’t expect any of that to change.”